Waratah safety rigorous: Berejiklian

The NSW government says safety tests on the delayed Waratah trains will be rigorous, despite a potential financial restructure of the debt-laden builder.

As part of a deal to get the delayed carriages into service, and to bail out the consortium that is building them, 50,000km of safety testing would be abandoned, News Ltd said on Wednesday.

But Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian dismissed claims that commuter safety would not be a priority under a financial restructure being negotiated with troubled train building consortium Reliance Rail.

"The NSW government continues to work closely with Reliance Rail and all parties involved on a potential financial restructuring option," Ms Berejiklian said in a statement.

"Should these arrangements be finalised, not only will the level of safety testing for the Waratahs be just as rigorous, reliability testing will be more demanding."

The multibillion dollar contract to build the 626 Waratah carriages has been beset by delays since it was announced by the former Labor government in 2006.

Then transport minister John Watkins promised all 78 trains would be in service by 2010, however only six are now being used by CityRail.

Reliance Rail is also struggling under the debt involved to finance the deal, with reports the government may have to pay $200 million to bail out the company.

"The O'Farrell government is now cleaning up Labor's mess and is ensuring that these trains come onto the tracks and provide safe, comfortable and efficient public transport for the community," Ms Berejiklian said.